Wade Steffey, a 19 year old freshman at Purdue University has been missing since January 13, 2007. Today, a body was found in a utility room at a campus residence hall at Purdue University. Although there has been no confirmation as to who was found, it is highly speculated that it was the body of Wade Steffey.

The coed residence hall, which houses about 700 students, is near the last reported location of missing Purdue freshman Wade Steffey, 19, who vanished Jan. 13. (Indy Star)

Comments

I am finding it hard to believe the police did not search all the places withing a dorm so close to where Wade was last seen. Simply unbelievable.

The fact that the door was locked is irrelevant. What if it was not locked when Wade went in, or if someone put him in there?

The point of searching is to clear areas as searhed … not to assume they can’t be in there. GEEZ.
R

justinsmama on
March 20th, 2007 12:19 am

Not the first time that Indiana police have failed to look into locked quarters. Remember the young boys who disappeared and were later found in the trunk of a vehicle?

purdude16 on
March 20th, 2007 1:26 am

Considering purdue has just come back from it’s spring break, it’s highly possible that the body was placed there if it is truly wade steffey during that time. and the fact that it may not have been searched is irrelevant, the speculation about the door being locked or unlocked doesn’t hold water. if it was unlocked and he went in on his own then who locked it and didn’t see him. it must have been purposeful. what most people don’t know is that there have been suspects. it’s not very likely that it was just an oversight of not looking in that room, it’s that there was no purpose looking in a room not accessible to anyone but the utilities crew of whom are not typically in that dorm in the first place. i think it was a purposeful action and not an accident that he died. and i think that whoever put him in there knew that he wouldn’t be found for a while.

I assume we will be told whether there were any marks of violence on the body … doesn’t seem likely that he would accidentally, or by suicide, end his days in a place like that.

Is it certain that the utility room was NEVER searched? Perhaps the body was put there after an initial search was conducted.

Brenda on
March 20th, 2007 8:20 am

I am wondering if he simply found the door ajar on his way back to the dorm from the party. If these doors lock automatically as they do where I work, (card-key access everywhere) and if he pulled it closed behind him, he’s have certainly been in a bind! Also, in high voltage areas there is much danger. If frightened and not thinking (or understanding the danger) he may have electrocuted himself!

The poster who mentioned “suspects” also points towards dumping him there. Could be if he was passed out or worse from partying. This would have required key-access. Either another utility worker was involved, someone has an extra key (doubtful), or someone knew how to get hold of one.

This is terrible! The body cannot be in good condition. Anyone who has ever been in a high voltage area knows there is alot of heat generated….

Brenda

Brenda on
March 20th, 2007 11:17 am

Fox news reporting person found was accidentally electrocuted. I was right in my thinking on that it appears. Actually am glad he would have died instantly rather than suffer locked in there for many days.

#1 – Find it hard to believe? C’mon. Police are not as efficient as TV and movies have us believe. We once arrived at work to find a tractor trailer abandoned in our parking lot. Called Police to come and investigate, run a tag number etc. Their response? Not our problem, call a tow trucke. Well the laws in this particular state and local community suggested we wait. And wait we did, and more waiting. When the wait period was up, 2 months, a tow service came out, removed the truck and then ran the plates. Conclusion, the truck was stolen and parked (with the keys inside) by disgruntled employee. (Hey if a tractor trailer isn’t moving it isn’t making money, common sense)

Police could have determined this 2 months previous, but it ‘wasn’t their job.’?

There are a lot of good police personnel out there, but the system does not allow them to work efficiently.

The commmunity, the college and the parents of this youth should be OUTRAGED at the lack of search by the College and local law enforcement. Heaven forbid if the student lived for some time before dying in the room.

Brenda on
March 21st, 2007 9:11 am

Just read the doors DO lock behind automatically. He did get in and get trapped as I suspected. Poor kid. Just starting his life. Very glad for the family as not knowing is said to be worse than finding a lost loved one has become deceased.